Police today have raided six homes in the Maitland area, arresting four people and dismantling a major hydroponic drug operation, NSW Police say.
Officers from the Port Stephens/Hunter Police District formed Strike Force Devom in December last year to investigate a suspected cluster of so-called hydro houses, residential properties renovated solely to accommodate illegal, commercial cannabis crops.
Around 8am today (Wednesday 14 February), strike teams executed crime scene warrants on six homes in Raworth, Tenambit, Heddon Greta, Aberglasslyn and Chisholm.
Three men and a woman, all Vietnamese nationals, were arrested during the operation and taken to Maitland Police Station.
Strike Force Devom investigators say the hydroponic set-ups in each house were extremely sophisticated, featuring scores of fake walls, watering systems, growing lights and transformers.
Police called in power company technicians to disconnect illegal electricity supplies at each of the homes.
Port Stephens/Hunter Police District Commander, Detective Superintendent Craig Jackson, said hundreds of cannabis plants have been found in each of the homes.
"We’re now investigating suspected links between the properties as this investigation bears all the hallmarks of organises crime activity," Superintendent Jackson said.
Superintendent Jackson has urged the public to continue to inform police about suspected drug operations in the Hunter.
"One of the houses today featured a baby walker in the garage and Christmas lights rigged up outside in a bid to blend into the neighbourhood," Supt Jackson added.
"But there are tell-tale signs to look out for," he said, "so-called hydro houses can give off a pungent odour, activity at the properties tend to be very low key, and windows are often always shut or boarded up."
